NRC in Lebanon

NRC support everyone affected by displacement in Lebanon and advocate for their rights inside the country, regionally and internationally. We also work to serve the local communities hosting displaced people.

A total of

497,324

people in need received our assistance in 2017.

Humanitarian overview

Lebanon has the highest number of refugees per capita in the world. The estimated 1.5 million Syrian refugees and almost 175,000 Palestinian refugees amount to over a quarter of Lebanon's total population. This has put pressure on public services and affected the country's demographic balance, threatening to impact on Lebanon’s own political stability.

Under Lebanese law, Syrians and Palestinians are not considered refugees, but “guests” granted temporary hospitality. The Lebanese government opposes creating formal camps, so refugees must find, and pay for, their own accommodations or live in informal settlements.

Since 2015, Lebanon's borders have been closed to civilians fleeing Syria. It is hard for refugees already in the country to renew their legal stay, making it difficult for refugees to move freely without fear of arrest or detention. Refugees cannot legally work and struggle to meet their essential needs. Seventy six percent of Syrian refugee households live below the national poverty line.

People we helped in Lebanon in 2017

19,000

people benefited from our education programme

21,167

people benefited from our shelter programme

54,074

people benefited from our camp management programme

269,409

people benefited from our ICLA programme

229,881

people benefited from our WASH programme

​NRC's operation

We support everyone affected by displacement in Lebanon and advocate for refugee rights inside the country, regionally and internationally.

NRC also works with Palestinian refugees in Lebanon, including those living in designated Palestinian refugee camps and those living in informal settlements. This assistance includes tens of thousands of Palestinian refugees from Syria.

Because refugees in Lebanon live side-by-side with the Lebanese, we also work to provide aid and assistance to Lebanese communities hosting displaced people.

Education

We run programmes for refugees from Syria at our community centres, NRC alternative learning spaces, support programming in Lebanese public schools and in schools run by the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). Our education activities: